Dizzy Dean Baseball Glove Artwork Enters Hall of Fame's Permanent Collection

Fine Art Baseball Mitt by Artist Sean Kane Makes the Team at Cooperstown Museum

Dizzy to Cooperstown

My artwork featuring Hall of Fame pitcher "Dizzy" Dean on a hand-painted, vintage baseball glove is now part of the collection at The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

The painting was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame collection by their Acquisitions Committee in early 2019. It was presented to Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson in March.

Sean Kane and Hall of Fame president, Jeff Idelson, with Dizzy Dean painted glove artwork.

Glove as Canvas

The artwork is a painted 1930's era Spalding baseball glove highlighting the eccentric, colorful Hall of Fame pitcher and ace of the St. Louis Cardinals staff from 1930-37. The "Gashouse Gang" won the 1934 World Series during Dizzy's MVP year.

Previous blog post about the Dizzy Dean painting >>

Hall of Fame Art Collection

The Dean painted glove joins approximately 1700 works of art in The Hall of Fame's collection, which began when the museum was founded in 1936 and includes works by Norman Rockwell and Andy Warhol.

The Hall of Fame acquires "works of art that contribute to the Museum’s mission of preserving history, honoring excellence, and connecting generations."

The painting will be part of the revolving of works on view in the “Art of Baseball” gallery or it will become part of the Dizzy Dean artifacts display, according to the Hall of Fame.

According to the Hall of Fame’s collections director, they have never seen or had another painted glove in the collection.

Dizzy at the Hall

References to Dizzy aren’t hard to find at Cooperstown. Besides the artifact display containing his Cardinals jersey, a photo pin and items from his teammates, even his cowboy hat from his broadcasting days is in the broadcast wing of the Museum.

A Home Run

I'm incredibly honored to have my art, my interest in the game and its history recognized by the Hall.

If the painting sparks interest in Dizzy, the era he played in or prompts conversations between generations of visitors to the Hall, then that's as good as a home run to me!

Many thanks to the folks at the Hall of Fame, to those who have encouraged and supported me, and those who enjoy the art I make!

Dizzy was painted in 2016 and has previously been a part of a group exhibit in North Carolina.

About the Artist

Sean Kane has been a professional artist for 25 years and began painting baseball-themed works in 2001.

His baseball art has been commissioned by organizations including the Philadelphia Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers Fantasy Camp and the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation.

Sean’s work is in the private collection of several Hall of Fame players, collectors across the U.S. and has been exhibited at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Kansas City, and the Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art, Tulsa.

Raised in the Chicago-area, his studio is now a long fly ball from Toronto.

Interested in a custom baseball glove painting?  Just Let Me Know.

Baseball Glove Art Magazine Feature

Grand Magazine article “Baseball Time Machines”

Click to read article in PDF format.

Thanks to Grand Magazine for sharing my art and story with their readers.

Clicking photos will open a PDF on the magazine’s site.

Click to read article in PDF format.

Had a great time talking baseball with the writer, Charlotte Prong, and having photographer Mathew McCarthy come to the studio for a second visit.

Click to read article in PDF format.

Super exciting to read such kind comments from a few happy collectors of my work in the article, too.

Look for Nobel Prize winner Donna Strickland on the cover! March/April 2019.

Grand is published in the Waterloo Region, Ontario.

About the Artist

Sean Kane has been a professional artist for 25 years and began painting baseball-themed works in 2001.

His baseball art has been commissioned by organizations including the Philadelphia Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers Fantasy Camp and the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation.

Sean’s work is in the private collection of several Hall of Fame players, collectors across the U.S. and has been exhibited at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Kansas City, and the Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art, Tulsa.

Raised in the Chicago-area, his studio is now a long fly ball from Toronto.

Cal Ripken Gold Glove Artwork

One-of-a-Kind Painting Celebrates Iron Man Ripken

Cal Ripken, Jr and his consecutive games played record-breaking achievement celebrated on a Pro-size Rawlings Gold Glove.

The Cal Ripken Sr Foundation commissioned this painted glove for their 14th Annual Aspire Gala in 2018.

• This Painting is has been sold. •

The Ripken Foundation gala event honors sports and community leaders and raises funds for the foundation's work around the country supporting programs for at-risk youths.

They plan to build their 100th ball field this year, state-of-the-art facilities for communities around the U.S., among other programs.

The artwork helps to capture the moment when Ripken surpassed Lou Gehrig's consecutive games played streak on September 6, 1995 at Oriole Field at Camden Yards in Baltimore.

The 2131 banners unveiled on the warehouse wall indicate Cal's record-breaking game. He went on to play 2632 straight games.

Rawlings and the Ripken Foundation provided the pro-sized 13-inch authentic Gold Glove that was used for the painting.

The scoreboard at Camden Yards is used as the backdrop for details about the record-breaking night.

Ripken's illustrious, Hall of Fame career achievements are featured along the left side. These include Rookie of the Year, MVP, All-Star, Gold Glove Awards, Silver Slugger and All-Star Game MVP awards.

Glove painting in progress. It took over 120 hours to complete the artwork, including research, design, preparing the glove and then the detailed painting.

Also the Orioles bird is there with a 1983 World Series champions banner.

Reference for the portrait is the iconic photograph by Scott Wachter.

Big thanks to the Ripken Foundation for inviting me to have a role in their efforts and putting this artwork to good use.

Robert Smith Photography

Artist, meet Iron Man; Iron Man, meet Artist. A brief chance to say hello to Cal at the Ripken Foundation event in Baltimore.

This Glove art is sold.

It's among nearly two-dozen painted gloves created over the years that have been collected into this portfolio book, "Sean Kane Baseball Art", Available HERE.

Sean Kane Baseball Art: Paintings of Ballpark Heroes on Classic Baseball Gloves

Interested in a baseball glove painting? I can create custom glove art.  Just Let Me Know.

Sean Kane's painted baseball glove art has been exhibited at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art, Tulsa, and has been the subject of a solo gallery show in New York City, and is in private collections across the U.S.

His glove paintings have been featured on ESPN.com, NBC Sports.com, and MLB Network Radio.

Sean has been a professional artist for over 20 years and a baseball fan since he was old enough to wear his dad's old mitt.  More info >

Ryan Braun Featured on 2008 Brewers Glove Artwork

Braun Painting Celebrates Wild Card Brew Crew

Hand-painted baseball glove featuring Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers.

The glove art Celebrates the 10th Anniversary of Brewers 2008 Wild Card team and Braun's impact on their success.

This painting was created for the 2018 Brewers Fantasy Camp as a fundraising item and fun item for a lucky camper to take home. Fantasy Camp featured players from the 2008 Brewers team as coaches for the week.

This year's recipient of funds generously raised by campers was Amber's Last Promise, a Wisconsin-based organization seeking to better the lives of those affected by mental illness, including through suicide prevention efforts.

The artwork is painted on an Easton personalized model donated by Ryan.

To complete the painting, including research, design, preparing the glove and, finally, getting out the tiny brushes took over 100 hours to complete.

Art Includes portraits of Ryan at bat, him rounding first base after 2008 final game home run and (very small!) high-fiving fellow "untucked" '08 teammates Corey Hart and Mike Cameron after a victory. 

As a final touch, Corey Hart helped to determine which camper would go home with the Braun painted glove, drawing the winner's name. (In '08 Brewers style, I went untucked in my attempt to reach Corey's long reach.)

The happy winner of the painting was a player on Corey's team during the week who plans to proudly display the glove in his Milwaukee office.

• This Painted Glove has been sold. •

In addition to the Braun glove art featured at Brewers Fantasy Camp, a special commission was presented to Brewers TV broadcaster and former catcher, Bill Schroeder.

"Rock" has run Fantasy Camp for over a decade and campers showed their appreciation for the amazing experience he helps create each year.

The painting features his career in baseball, including catching the Brewers only no-hitter, on a Rawlings orange target mitt just like the kind he wore behind the plate in the 1980's.

Thanks to Bill and the Brewers Fantasy Camp for inviting me and my work to be part of their annual week of baseball fun.

Interested in a custom baseball glove painting?  Just Let Me Know.

Sean Kane's painted baseball glove art has been exhibited at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art, Tulsa, and has been the subject of a solo gallery show in New York City, and is in private collections across the U.S.

His glove paintings have been featured on ESPN.com, NBC Sports.com, and MLB Network Radio.

Sean has been a professional artist for over 20 years and a baseball fan since he was old enough to wear his dad's old mitt.  More info >

Baseball Glove Art Newsletters - Past Issues

February 2017 Newsletter

About the Newsletter

The 'Dugout Dispatch' is a monthly quick update on the latest baseball art projects, events and exhibitions, and upcoming gloves that are in the works.

You can receive my latest studio news by signing up in the box at bottom of this page.

October 2017 Newsletter

Sean Kane's baseball glove art is in the collection of the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and was part of the "Chasing Dreams" exhibit at the Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art. Sean was recognized as “Artist of the Month” by the National Art Museum of Sport. His work has been commissioned by the Philadelphia Phillies, Cal Ripken Sr Foundation and The Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. More about Sean

Inquires about paintings and commissioning glove artworks are welcome. Please contact sean@seankane.com or telephone 519-836-5647.

Hitting the Ice: Pucks become a New Canvas for Sports Art

Hockey Collectibles featuring Hand-Painted Player Portraits

Example of Painted Puck hockey art. New custom orders do not include framing.

I'm now offering player portraits on something besides baseball gloves -- the hockey puck.

Hockey stars of past and present featured on one-of-a-kind Painted Pucks by acclaimed sports artist Sean Kane.

• Custom, original painting of your favorite player on standard 3-inch hockey puck

• Hand-painted portrait and lettering for a unique hockey keepsake

• Painted Puck arrives with display easel, ready to be on view

• For gifts, a card with your personalized message can be included

• Created with top quality materials to protect its longevity for years to come

• Artist featured on ESPN.com, NBC Sports.com and MLB Network Radio

Enter Player (& team) to Paint

Now $395 US

(Canadian buyers please note: US$ pricing includes 13% HST & shipping)

Secure credit card payment via PayPal. • Free shipping to US/Canada

You will receive a confirmation after your order is placed detailing delivery schedule. Approximate wait time is 8 weeks to completion. • Like to know more? Contact me.

You Choose the Player

Shown here is an example of a Painted Puck featuring the new NHL expansion team Vegas Golden Knights General Manager, George McPhee.

As a player, McPhee was part of New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils teams in the 1980s. This after a stellar collegiate career at Bowling Green and winning the Hobey Baker Award.

I'll be showing more examples soon.

Example of Painted Puck hockey art. This George McPhee puck art is NOT available -- It's at the Golden Knights offices in Las Vegas.

Museum-quality hockey gifts ideal for avid fans to display proudly at the office or in the man cave.

• Perfect for sparking memories of hockey moments and celebrating favorite players.

• Detailed, hand-painted portrait and lettering highlight fan-favorites who have laced up skates over the decades.

• Original artwork (not a print or photo) is painted on standard 3-inch hockey pucks using archival professional-quality acrylic paints -- the same method used on my glove art.

Example of Painted Puck nearing completion in my studio.

Questions and inquiries are welcomed. Contact via Email.

---

Sean Kane's art is in the collection of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and The National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum in Cooperstown. He was recognized as “Artist of the Month” by the National Art Museum of Sport last year.

Sean's work has been commissioned by the
Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers Fantasy Camp and is in private collections across North America. His baseball glove art has been featured on ESPN.com, NBC Sports.com and MLB Network Radio.

Sean grew up rooting for his hometown Chicago Blackhawks, which can be a bit tricky now that he lives near Toronto!

Inquires about paintings and commissioning puck art are encouraged. Contact via the Contact page.

Astros Jeff Bagwell Featured on Hand-Painted Baseball Glove

Hall of Famer Bagwell Receives Glove Artwork

I recently had the honor of being asked to create a one-of-a-kind painting as a special gift for 2017 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Jeff Bagwell.

One of Bagwell's close friends commissioned this painted glove, which was given to him this week to coincide with his induction festivities in Cooperstown.

Jeff with his hand-painted baseball glove.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rawlings Mitt as Canvas for Bagwell Art

The painting is on a new Rawlings first base mitt, the Pro JB5 model, named for Bagwell.

The glove was made expressly for this project and has his name stitched on it. (Somewhat reminiscent to the Ryan Howard glove painted for the Phillies last year.)

Bagwell Painted Glove Design

With a 15-year baseball career full of milestones, a big challenge was deciding how to best use the space on the mitt to organize all of the info necessary to convey Bagwell's MLB achievements.

Pouring over the graphic elements relating to Bagwell's time with the Astros from 1991 to 2005, I decided the star element and his uniform number 5 -- along with his iconic batting stance that the client requested -- would be the key anchors of the design.

The Astros color palette of burgundy and black towards the end of Bagwell's career seems to best compliment the glove's black and tan appearance.

Bagwell Batting Portrait

Since the person being depicted is also the recipient of this painting, getting Bagwell's likeness as close as possible was key and the biggest challenge.

(The fabric held in place by masking tape covers areas of the glove I've already painted, keeping those parts protected from sweaty hands and fingers that might (probably!) have paint on them.)

Even though the portrait is only about the size of my thumb, there's no mistaking which "Killer B" is up to bat.

The painting is created using acrylic paints and varnishes -- and many fine-tipped brushes.

Hand-Lettered Awards and Stats

The glove is hand-lettered with highlights of Bagwell's many awards, including 1991 NL Rookie of the Year, 1994 National League MVP, 4-time All-Star, Gold Glove winner, and 1994 Player of the Year Award.

I used the Astros uniform font as the basis for my hand-lettered type with some artistic license, including italicizing/tilting it a bit.

A few career statistics totals are listed on the thumb side of the glove: Batting average .297, Hits 2,314, Home Runs 449, RBI 1,529 and Fielding .993 .

Recognizing Bagwell's close relationship with Darryl Kile, the client requested that the design include a reference to the "DK 57" memorial patch that was worn on uniforms upon Kile's death in 2002.

Design Details on Bagwell Baseball Glove Art

While not a member of the Astros during the prime 'Tequila Sunrise' uniform days (more about this at Uni-watch.com -- external link), the iconic red/orange/yellow rainbow is so linked to the visual identity of the Houston franchise, I wanted to be sure to reference it on the painting -- especially as Bagwell played his entire career with the team.

Bagwell is synonymous with wearing number 5 in Houston and the Astros retired his number in 2007. Taking design cues from the glove's design, the web lends itself ideally as placement for a number 5.

A reference to the Astros 2005 NL Championship and Bagwell's appearance in the World Series is placed in the webbing as well.

Lastly, once painted and a light matte finish is applied to protect the work, the first base mitt is displayed on a museum stand.

Hopefully this artwork will be a cherished keepsake enjoyed by Jeff and his family for many years to come!

This Glove art is sold.

It's among nearly two-dozen painted gloves created over the years that have been collected into this portfolio book, "Sean Kane Baseball Art", Available HERE.

Sean Kane Baseball Art: Paintings of Ballpark Heroes on Classic Baseball Gloves

Commissioning Custom Glove Art

If you'd like to learn more about commissioning a custom painted glove for yourself or as a gift, you can learn more here and contact me for more information.

Sean Kane's painted baseball glove art is in the permanent collection of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, The National Pastime Museum and is in private collections across the U.S.

His clients include the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers Fantasy Camp.

Sean's glove paintings have been featured on ESPN.com, NBC Sports.com, and MLB Network Radio and have recognized by the National Art Museum of Sport.

Sean has been a professional artist for over 20 years and a baseball fan since he was old enough to wear his dad's childhood mitt.

Milwaukee Brewers 1987 Team Streak Glove Painting

30th Anniversary '87 Team Celebrated on Art at Brewers Fantasy Camp 2017

The latest Brewers Fantasy Camp featured art I created which focused on the legendary 1987 Milwaukee Brewers, who began their season with a 13-game winning streak.

"Team Streak", as they became known, is probably one of my most ambitious glove art paintings so far.

Incorporated in the design are five players key to the excitement of the 1987 Brewers:

Paul Molitor had a 39-game hit streak that season and is depicted coming out of the batters box after his hit in the last game of his streak.

Juan Nieves is depicted throwing the Brewers first no-hitter, a game caught by Bill Schroeder.

Teddy Higuera threw 32 consecutive scoreless innings in 1987.

Dale Sveum had the game winning home run on Easter Sunday, keeping the Brewers winning streak alive.

And Rob Deer led the way on the Sports Illustrated cover story about the hot Milwaukee team. The image of him on the cover of SI was the basis for my portrait of him.

Being a painting about a team, it seemed natural that the whole team should be represented. All player names from the '87 Brewers roster plus manager Tom Trebelhorn are included in the design.

The catcher's mitt is a pro model 1980s Rawlings, matching the era of the team depicted. While not the exact style used by Bill Schroeder the night he caught the Nieves no-hitter, the mitt did make for an ideal canvas for this painting

This glove art was part of the fundraising efforts of Brewers Fantasy Camp. The raffle for the "Team Streak" art raised money for Stars and Stripes Honor Flight of Wisconsin.

The winner of the framed painted glove was Fantasy Camper Scott F., who says he already knows exactly where it's going to hang in his home.

Framed "Team Streak" Baseball Glove Art with artist Sean Kane and winner of the painting.

While not raised as a native Brewers fan, it's hard not to root for such a great group of guys and the opportunity to share my work with them in the desert the past few winters.

Maryvale Stadium, Phoenix, getting ready for Brewers Fantasy Camp game.

Cecil Cooper at clubhouse meeting

Previous paintings for the Brewers Fantasy Camp included '82 Brew Crew and Cecil Cooper glove art. 

Bill Schroeder addressing Q&A Night

Big thanks to Brewers TV analyst and fantasy camp organizer Bill Schroeder, ace photographer Rick Ramirez and the Brewers camp staff and former players for welcoming me back to Phoenix for the third year in a row.

Sean Kane's baseball glove art has been commissioned by the Philadelphia Phillies, is in the collection of The National Pastime Museum and Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and private collections across the country.  Sean was recognized as “Artist of the Month” by the National Art Museum of Sport.